Schaeffler Group USA Inc.’s Aftermarket Division recently hosted the Automotive Aftermarket Parts Alliance Service Dealer Advisory Council at the LuK Automotive Training Academy in Wooster, Ohio. The event, which took place Oct. 3-5, was attended by 10 independent automotive repair shops owners who represent more than 3,000 affiliated Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper certified service centers from across the United States and Canada.
The council meets annually with Alliance headquarters personnel for the primary purpose of reviewing and sharing ideas to better improve service and programs with the Alliance group members, and ultimately with the customers of their respective shops. The ultimate goal of the group is to ensure that all associated professional technicians have access to the necessary resources.
“This was a unique opportunity to get 10 of the most successful shop owners affiliated with the Alliance Group in one room to discuss the needs of the modern shop owner,” says Bill Hanvey, Schaeffler Group’s vice president of sales and marketing. “We value their feedback and perspective on better marketing our products.”
The Schaeffler Group personnel conducted a plant tour of the LuK manufacturing facility, where the advisory council saw the latest in torque converter and clutch manufacturing technologies. Subsequent to the plant tour, the Schaeffler Group spent time with the advisory council to identify how they could better train and equip today’s professional shop owner to service their customers seeking a clutch installation more effectively.
“We could not have asked for a better facility along with the hospitality that the Schaeffler Group offered to all of our attendees,” says Jon Owens, vice president of sales and market development for the Alliance Group. “This was a very productive and successful meeting for our ASDA Council.”
